President’s decision a ‘good omen’: BB
Staff Report

RAWALPINDI—Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Ms Benazir Bhutto welcoming the President General Pervez Musharraf for relinquishing the charge as Army chief and handing over the coveted post to General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani termed it a “good omen” for promotion of democracy in the country.
She was talking to mediamen at Islamabad International Airport on reaching here from Karachi on Wednesday. Responding to a question on doffing off uniform by President General Pervez Musharraf, the PPP chief said “Musharraf has taken off uniform, this is a good decision” saying “we welcome General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on assuming the charge as new Army chief, saying this decision would help reduce political role of the army in the country’s politics adding with complete restoration of democracy, the army would be separated completely from politics and engaged in the country’s defence, she added.
About PML (N) Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s stand on upcoming elections, she said there is shift in Mian Nawaz Sharif’s stand saying as he has been deviating from his principled stand as his stance regarding boycott of the election was irrational, adding however, our stand on certain issues was the same.
Former Premier Nawaz Sharif has said he was ready to “bury the past” with his arch rival and another ex-premier Benazir Bhutto and that they would consider boycotting the January 6 Parliamentary elections if there was a consensus.
Voicing his readiness to work with Bhutto in the “war against dictatorship”, Sharif said they were apprehensive about the fairness of elections. “We have to rise above personal interests. The country is in danger. I am ready to bury the past (with Bhutto). We have to work for national interest,” Sharif told an Indian TV channel.
The two-time former premier, who returned home on Sunday after a seven-year exile, said it was a fact that Musharraf tried to stop him from returning to Pakistan since his presence will put the general’s plans in jeopardy. To a question, the PML-N leader said he had a lot of hope in India and Pakistan improving their bilateral relations. “The two countries should sink their differences and make a new beginning. It is possible and we should make it possible,” he said.
British High Commissioner Robert Brinkley and Canadian High Commissioner David Collins called on PML (N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif here on Wednesday. In an hour-long meeting, the British High Commissioner Robert Brinkley discussed the current political situation as well as free, fair and transparent elections in the country with the former Prime Minister at his residence in Raiwand.
In a separate meeting with the PLN (N) Chief, Canadian High Commissioner David Collins said that his country wanted democracy to flourish in Pakistan. Talking to media persons after the meeting, Collin said that his meeting with the PML (N) leader was not an unusual, but phase of meetings with the various political leadership for holding of free and transparent elections in Pakistan. He maintained that the purpose of the meeting was to ensure a free, fair and transparent election in the country.